Flotation method



Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

GALE L. ADAMS, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T STANDARD OIL DEVEL- OIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FLOTATION METHOD.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to flotation methods such as are used in concentrating ores. In the present day flotation methods the finely ground ore is agitated with water 6 and a small proportion of an oily material. Heretofore the widely used flotation oils have comprised creosote oils, particularly those derived from Wood distillation and pine oils. With the gradual decrease in 10 sources of raw materials for such. oils, it is becoming increasingly desirable to provide other agents which will be equally or more satisfactory.

I have now found that the residuums from cracking mineral hydrocarbons, particularly residues from cracking petroleum where the cracking operation has been carried out under pressure, furnish very desirable flotation material. In some instances this may bereinforced with other'agents as, for instance, a minor proportion of pine oil, say 15%; but I find that a material which is yet superior to the pine oil is had in the residuum from the hydrolysis of sulfated olefines. This latter is to be had as a byproduct in the manufacture of alcohols from olefines Where olefine gases are absorbed in sulfuric acid under sulfating conditions while largely and preferably entirely avoiding the formation of tarry and resinoussulfonated material and similar products and sludges. This is accomplished by contacting the olefine material with acid for a comparatively short period of time while emtreatment of petroleum fractions. The sulfated products are hydrolyzed by addition of Water and the alcohol-containing layer separated off. The oily layer or residuum contains polymerized hydrocarbons and small quantities of higher alcohols. In compounding flotation oil, where this material is used I prefer ordinarily to use from 5% to 30%, the balance up to 100% being made 5 up, as above indicated, of the residuum from ploying weaker acid than is used in the acid Application filed January 30, 1924. Serial No. 689,584.

ing oils with fuming or concentrated sulfurie acid and preparing a sodium salt or alkaline metal salt of the sulfonic acid. As customarily prepared, such a sodium sulfonate contains about 40% of moisture, and in making up compositions with this as an ingredient I prefer ordinarily to employ from .1% to 5% of such sulfonate. Usuallysuch sulfonate carries also some free alkali, suflicient to impart an alkaline reaction, and this is generally of advantage. In some instances it is desirable also to add alkali. In instances where an alkaline reaction is not wanted, it can be readily obviated by addition of an acid.

i As an illustration of the practice of the invention the following example may be noted: An ore containing 1.9% copper as chalcocite and chalcopyrite, was ground as usual and agitatedwith water in a flotation machine, using 1.4 lbs. of flotation oil per ton of ore, the oil being a compound of 80% pressure still tar, 19.1% of residuum from hydrolysis of sulfated olefines and .9% of water-soluble sodium sulfonate of petroleum hydrocarbons, the sulfonate having been preliminarily stabilized by long heating on a water bath.

It will be understood that the amount of flotation oil used will vary in different cases within considerable limits, in general for instance between about 0.05 and 1%, and with different ores the proportions of ingredients will necessarily be somewhat varied and, as already indicated, in some instances the sulfonate, or both sulfonate and residuum from the hydrolysis of sulfated olefines may be omitted with sufficiently satlsfactory results.

"What- I claimis:

1. A process of concentrating ores, which comprises agitating the finely divided ore with water and a small quantity of a mixture containing 80% of pressure still tar, about 19% of residuum from hydrolysis of sulfated olefines, and about 1% of a water- 3 soluble sodium sulfonate of petroleum hydrocarbons. aerating to form a froth and separating the froth.

2. A process of concentrating ores, which comprises agitating the finely dividedv ore with Water and a small quantity of pressure still tar, residuum from hydrolysis of sulfated gaseous olefines, and a Water-soluble sodium sulfonate of petroleum hydrocarbons, aerating to form a froth and separating the froth;

3. A process of concentrating ores, which comprises agitating the finely divided ore with Water and a small quantity of pressure still tar and residuum from hydrolysis of sulfated olefines substantially free from sulfonio compounds, aerating to form a froth and separating the froth. v

4. A process of concentrating ores, which comprises agitating the finely divided ore with water and a small quantity of residuum from the cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons and a reinforcing agent substantially comprised of polymerized hydrocarbons, aerating to form a froth and separating the froth. 5. A process of concentrating ores, which comprises agitating the finely divided ore with Water and a small quantity of hydrocarbon residuum from the cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons.

- GALE L. ADAMS. 

